A 2015 senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb,
has been sentenced to 10 years immprisonment by the Abuja Federal High Court forselling petrol to Boko Haram terrorists.

The politician was convicted on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism in the country brought against him by the Federal Government.

Habeeb, a fuel dealer in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State,
had, upon his arraignment on the one-count charge, admitted guilt of selling fuel to the terrorists.

He, however, claimed that his fuel station attendants may have been responsible for the sales.

The politician, while kneeling down in the dock for almosone hour his trial lasted, pleaded passionately with Justice Peter Lifu to b lenient with him.

He claimed to have two wives and six children, and that he had not been allowed to see or communicate with any member of his family for more than 10 years he had been in detention.

The Federal Government lawyer, Mr David Kaswe, vehemently opposed the plea of the convict for leniency, adding that the logistics support accorded to the terrorists had led to the deaths of several people and rendered others homeless.

Kaswe admitted that the convict had spent more than 10 years in detention and insisted that he should be given 20 years’ imprisonment.

The lawyer maintained that Boko Haram would not have been able to use their motorcycles to launch attacks on innocent people and escape into the bush if no one had sold fuel to them

In his judgment, Justice Peter Lifu held that there was no evidence that the convict was a member of Boko Haram or trained on weapon handling, adding that the sole accusation against him was the sale of fuel to rhe terrorists.

The judge also held that the claim of spending more than 10 years in custody by the convict was not debunked by the prosecution.

Justice Peter Lifu subsequently sentenced the defendant to 10 years’ imprisonment.

He, however, ordered that the jail term should start from the date of the arrest and detention of the convict.

The judge ordered that the convict be immediately released upon signing of his release warrant to enable him to go for extensive
rehabilitation.

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U.S. Vice President JD Vance is en route to Islamabad, Pakistan, where he will lead high-stakes talks with the Iranians as part ofefforts to broker peace since a ceasefire was struck on Tuesday.

Vance boarded Air Force Two moments ago on Friday and is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Saturday.

“We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive,” the vice-president told reporters on the tarmac ahead of
his departure.

“As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, then they going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

He noted that President Donald Trump had given “clearguidelines” on the negotiations but did not give details.

Vance is the highest-ranking US official to enter negotiations with Iran since 1979.

Over the past year, the US negotiating team has been led by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, US envoy.

Kushner and Witkoff are among the delegation led by Vance.

It is not strange that Islamabad is hosting the negotiation talks. Pakistan has acted as an intermediary between Iran and the US over the last few weeks, passing messages between the two.

It is trusted by the Gulf countries, US, and Iran, with which it shares a border and regularly refers to its “brotherly” relationship with the Islamic Republic.

Trump has described Asim Munir, head of Pakistan’s armed forces, as his “favourite” field marshall and said he knows Iran “better than
most”.

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A fire broke out on Thursday at an external warehouse facility operated by Nigerian Breweries Plc in Aba, Abia State, but was quickly brought under control with no injuries or fatalities recorded.

The company confirmed that the affected site was a leased warehouse located opposite its Aba brewery, primarily used for storing empty plastic crates.

In a statement filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Friday, Nigerian Breweries Plc said its emergency response team, supported by government agencies, the Oris Group, and members of the host community, successfully contained the blaze.

The impact of the fire was limited to the empty crates stored at the facility. Operations at the main Aba brewery, including production, logistics, and sales, remain fully unaffected and stable.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire,” the company said. “No injuries or fatalities were recorded.”Nigerian Breweries Plc reiterated its commitment to the highest standards of safety across all its facilities.

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Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday presented 40 brand new SUVs to traditional rulers in the state as he charged them to create a peaceful and investor-friendly atmosphere in their domains.

The governor made the presentation during the first statutory meeting of the Ogun State Council of Obas for 2026, held at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Abiodun expressed concern over reports of hostility towards investors by some communities, particularly in Yewa South, Ipokia, and Ijebu North areas, warning that such attitudes could derail the state’s economic progress.

“These investors are bringing in significant capital that will transform our economy, create jobs for our people, and improve livelihoods. They must be welcomed and supported,” the governor said.

He stressed that traditional rulers have a critical role to play in ensuring peace and cooperation, urging them to work closely with their subjects to position Ogun State as a preferred investment destination.

Abiodun further warned that his administration would not tolerate any actions capable of discouraging genuine investors, describing such behaviour as unacceptable.

On security, the governor called for increased vigilance by traditional rulers and residents, urging them to promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts at tackling national security challenges while noting the need for local collaboration to sustain Ogun’s relative peace.

The governor also cautioned monarchs against indiscriminate land allocation and involvement in land disputes, describing land as the state’s “oil” that must be managed with transparency and integrity.

He issued a stern warning to landlords against renting properties to criminals, stating that any building used for unlawful activities would be demolished.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hazmat, said the meeting was convened to address critical issues of security and development while strengthening ties between the government and traditional institutions.

The Chairman of the Ogun State Council of Obas and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, commended Governor Abiodun’s developmental efforts and assured the council’s continued support for policies aimed at economic growth and stability.

The donation of the 40 SUVs is expected to enhance the administrative efficiency and community engagement of the traditional rulers.

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Poverty in Nigeria rose to 63 per cent in 2025 despite a slowdown in inflation, underscoring the limited impact of recent macroeconomic improvements on household welfare, the World Bank has said.

The bank disclosed this in its Nigeria Development Update (April 2026) titled “Nigeria’s Tomorrow Must Start Today: The Case for Early Childhood Development,” released in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the report, the share of Nigerians living below the poverty line increased from 56 per cent in 2023 to 61 per cent in 2024, before rising further to 63 per cent in 2025—equivalent to about 140 million people.

The increase occurred even as inflation began to ease, highlighting a disconnect between moderating prices and real income growth.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that headline inflation declined from 34.80 per cent in December 2024 to 15.15 per cent in December 2025, a drop of 19.65 percentage points. Food inflation also fell sharply from 39.84 per cent to 10.84 per cent over the same period.

Despite this moderation, the World Bank noted that inflation remained high enough to erode purchasing power and worsen living conditions.

“Household incomes have not grown fast enough to offset still-elevated inflation, and poverty has yet to begin declining,” the report stated.

It added that the persistence of poverty reflects the cumulative effects of earlier inflation spikes, which had already weakened real incomes before the recent easing in prices.

The bank also cited global shocks, particularly the Middle East conflict, as factors pushing up energy, food and transport costs, thereby worsening conditions for low-income households.

Beyond inflation, the report identified structural constraints to poverty reduction, noting that economic growth has been driven largely by services and industry, while agriculture—where more than half of the poor are employed—has lagged behind.

“Growth in the agriculture sector… has lagged services and industry, constraining the pace of poverty reduction,” it said.

This imbalance has limited income gains among vulnerable populations, slowing the translation of economic growth into improved living standards.

Looking ahead, the World Bank projected a gradual decline in poverty from 2026 as inflation continues to ease and macroeconomic conditions stabilise. Poverty is expected to fall to about 59 per cent by 2028, supported by lower food inflation and moderate growth.

However, it warned that the pace of decline would remain slow due to weak job creation, low agricultural productivity and persistent inequality, stressing that growth must be inclusive and job-rich to significantly reduce poverty.

The report also linked poverty to broader human capital challenges, noting that poorer households face worse outcomes in nutrition, health and early childhood development, reinforcing long-term inequality.

Speaking at the report’s launch, the World Bank’s Lead Economist for Nigeria, Fiseha Haile, said poverty remains elevated despite recent macroeconomic improvements.

He warned that although inflation has declined, it still risks eroding real incomes and slowing welfare gains, emphasising that price stability is critical to improving living conditions.

Haile added that reducing poverty would depend not only on economic growth but also on its quality, particularly its ability to create jobs and raise incomes among the most vulnerable.

He further stressed that investments in early childhood development are essential for long-term productivity and poverty reduction.

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Suspected Fulani bandits have killed eight residents in Mbwelle Village, Kwatas District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what authorities described as a renewed wave of reprisal attacks.

The attack reportedly occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on April 9, according to security sources.

The incident was disclosed in a post on X by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security analyst focused on the Lake Chad region.

The victims were identified as Habila Istifanus (38), Hassan Istifanus (31), Iliya Mangut (70), Sunday Gideon (31), Innocent Banabas (20), Lucky Titus (38), Wisdom Lucky (15), and Bwehsun Hassan (25).

Joint security forces said they responded to a distress call but did not encounter the attackers, who had fled the scene before their arrival.

A security source attributed the delayed response to the distance—about 15 kilometres—between the troops’ base and the community, as well as difficult terrain.

All casualties, including those injured, were evacuated to Bokkos Cottage Hospital.

Troops have since launched operations to track down the assailants.

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The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has filed a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to restore the names of Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, followed the removal of their names, alongside other members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, from INEC’s official portal on April 1.

In a motion on notice dated April 7, filed by counsel to Mark, Sulaiman Usman, SAN, the plaintiff is asking the court to issue a mandatory injunction directing INEC to reinstate the affected officials as they existed before the dispute.

The application, brought under Order 26 Rules 1 to 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, as well as the court’s inherent jurisdiction, seeks three principal reliefs.

Part of the relief reads: “An order of mandatory injunction, setting aside the decision, act, or directive of the respondent removing the names of the applicant’s National Working Committee from its official portal and the decision of refusal to attend or monitor the applicant’s congresses or convention pending the hearing and determination of the suit.”

It further seeks: “An order of mandatory injunction directing INEC to forthwith restore and maintain records of the names of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, as well as all members of the National Executive Committee.”

The plaintiff also prayed the court for: “An order restraining INEC from tampering with, or otherwise interfering with, the said leadership records, or recognising any contrary or competing claims, pending the final determination of the suit.”

The suit arose from the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal in a leadership dispute initiated by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Nafiu Gombe, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court.

In a supporting affidavit, Usman argued that the appellate court had directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, describing it as the last uncontested state of affairs before the dispute.

Meanwhile, immediate past National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, yesterday, said the party will continue preparations for its convention and congresses and won’t be distracted by the leadership crisis rocking the party, which parades some of the biggest opposition politicians in Nigeria.

On a day that the Nafiu Gombe-led factioan of the party held a counter-protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Nwosu, who is backing the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC spoke during an interview on Channels Television.

This was as Civil Society Organisations, CSOs alleged that the Professor Joash Amupitan-led INEC was out to crown President Bola Tinubu; and a chieftain of the ADC, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, added that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, does not want elections in 2027.

No going back on our preparation for polls — Nwosu

Insisting that the ADC is moving on with its plans ahead of the 2027 general elections despite INEC’s de-recognition of the Mark and Gombe camps citing court order, Nwosu said: “We are taking the necessary action both in court and with INEC, but we will not allow INEC to derail any of our programmes. After that malicious INEC release, our chairman and the rest of us sat together and decided to move ahead,

“We submitted our programme to INEC according to the law, and they endorsed it—all the dates were endorsed. By the electoral law, whether they show up or not is their own volition; we have not violated anything.

“The congresses have already started. Our national convention, slated for the 14th , will also go on, where we will validate everything we’ve done. We don’t want opportunists in the ADC; we want mission-driven leaders who have the courage to challenge a bad system.”

Nwosu said the ADC will inform INEC of its programmes, including “our upcoming national convention to select our presidential and general candidates. If they don’t accept it, we will publish it to all Nigerian media because they represent the people,” Nwosu, who founded the ADC, said.

Gombe leads ADC counter-protest over INEC recognition dispute

However, the Gombe-led action of the ADC, yesterday, took to the streets of Abuja in a counter-protest, pressing the electoral commission for recognition and warning rival actors to steer clear of the party’s affairs.

Rival camps within the ADC, linked to former Senate President David Mark and the party’s former presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, are now openly battling over who truly runs the party ahead of the 2027 Nigerian general election.

The fight among the camps centres on leadership, control of the party’s structure, and who should be recognised by INEC.

Gombe, who is also laying claim to the party’s national chairmanship, stood with Leke Joseph Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives, during the demonstration, which climaxed at the headquarters of the INEC in the nation’s capital, where they addressed supporters and restated their demand for official recognition.

We won’t allow political nomads to hijack our party — Gombe

Gombe said despite INEC’s position, the David Mark-led faction is going to proceed with the national convention and congresses, insisting that internal processes should not be suspended.

“This confidence is not merely a matter of party politics; it reflects a deeper issue of respect for the rule of law and the principles governing our democracy. We cannot allow political nomads to exploit the vulnerability of our party for their gain. The integrity of INEC and the democratic process in Nigeria depends on our commitment to upholding our constitutional framework and the decisions of the judiciary.”

He urged INEC to comply with what he described as a Court of Appeal order preserving the status quo ante bellum, specifically asking the commission to reflect his position on its official records.

“My prayer as I address you today is that I urge INEC to please place my name on the portal, as required by the status quo antebellum order of the Court of Appeal. This is not just a personal request; it is a plea for justice, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law.

APC doesn’t want 2027 polls — Kenneth Okonkwo

Meanwhile, ADC Chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has accused the ruling APC of plotting to undermine opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to journalists in Enugu, Okonkwo who is also a member of National Working Committee, NWC, alleged that the APC is using state institutions and internal collaborators to destabilise the ADC.

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Two children were rescued on Thursday after a two-storey residential building collapsed in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, prompting emergency response and fresh warnings over structural safety.

According to Punch, the incident, which occurred at about 9:10 a.m. on Ajegunle Street, off Sabo-Line in the Isale area, involved a six-flat building.

In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, the agency confirmed that two children were initially trapped in the debris but were rescued before firefighters arrived at the scene.

“It was reported that two children, Ahmad (8 years) and Hussainat (10 years) were trapped but were rescued and taken to the nearest hospital before the arrival of the Fire Service,” Hassan said.

“Firefighters immediately commenced salvage operations, recovering essential belongings including clothes, electronics, food items, and important documents from accessible areas of the building,” he added.

Following an on-site assessment, the Fire Service raised concerns about the safety of nearby structures and recommended urgent preventive measures to avert further disasters.

“Following an on-site assessment, the Kwara State Fire Service recommended to the Disaster Management Department of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to seal off the collapsed structure and issue a seven-day ultimatum to occupants of an adjacent building found to be structurally unsafe and unfit for habitation,” the PRO noted.

The Disaster Management unit of the NSCDC was said to have acted swiftly on the recommendation, sealing off the affected building and enforcing the evacuation notice on the neighbouring structure.

Authorities also disclosed that prior warnings had been issued about the condition of the building before the collapse occurred.

“It was further gathered that the caretaker of the collapsed building had previously been notified about the deteriorating condition of the structure prior to the incident,” Hassan said.

The Director of the Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, was present at the scene to supervise operations and coordinate with other emergency responders.

Addressing property owners and residents, Alabi urged them to carry out regular structural integrity assessments of buildings, heed early warning signs such as cracks and weaknesses, and take immediate action when defects are identified.

He stressed that prompt attention to structural defects could prevent avoidable tragedies and save lives, while reaffirming the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

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Yesterday, being 8th April, 2026, a combined team comprising members of the Nigerian Police Force and Udogachi Security paid a courtesy visit to the incoming EzeNri, Ọba Alọkwụeche, Barrister Chukwudi Nwokoye.

The delegation was led by Inspector Gabriel Owoicho Adokpa of the Nigerian Police Force and Mr. Christopher Nwosu of Udogachi Security. The visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between formal law enforcement agencies, local security outfits, and the traditional institution in maintaining peace and security within the community.

During the visit, the team formally paid their respects to the Ọba and commended his leadership role in promoting peace and unity. Inspector Adokpa reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Police Force to ensuring the safety of lives and property, while also emphasizing the importance of community partnership in effective policing.
Mr. Christopher Nwosu, speaking on behalf of Udogachi Security, highlighted the role of local security initiatives in complementing the efforts of the police. He stressed the need for continuous cooperation and information sharing between all stakeholders.

In his response, Ọba Alọkwụeche, Barrister Chukwudi Nwokoye, appreciated the visit and commended the joint efforts of both the Nigerian Police Force and Udogachi Security. He encouraged sustained collaboration and urged all parties to remain committed to the peace, stability, and development of the community.
The visit concluded on a positive note, with assurances of continued partnership in fostering a secure and peaceful environment.

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